Electric block-signal system.



No. 634,816. Patented Def. :0, I899.-

.. s. u. HALL.

ELECTRIC BLOCK SIGNAL SYSTEM.

(Appliuti on M 105. 20, 1599.) (No man.) 7 4 Sheets-Shoot I.

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llo; 534,8:6. Patented Oct. [0, I899.

s. u. HALL. ELECTRIC BLOCK 'SIGIIALSYSTEI.

(Applied-ion flhd lab. 90, 1899.)

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No. 634,816. Patented Oct. :0, I899.

' V s. u. HALL.

ELECTRIC'BLDGK SIGNAL SYSTEM.

(Amalia-flan filed nb. 20, 1899.)

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s. n. HALL.

ELECTRIC BLOCK SIGNAL SYSTEIL l xmm filadFh 20 1899) w 4 emu-sum 4 (lo Iodnh) UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SELDEN H. HA LL,-.OF. BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

ELECTRIC BLOCK-SIGNAL SYSTEM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 634,816, dated October 10, 1899. Application filed February 20, 1899 Serial lie- 706,199. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that-I, SELDEN HJHALL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Buifalo, New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Block-Signal Systems, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description. I

In the construction and operation of systems of this class it is essential that the construction should be simple and inexpensive and the operation positive and liability to disorder reduced to the minimum. 'It is also further necessary that the driver of the machine entering the block should know positively not only that the block ahead of him is open, but that on the instant of entering the block he has set the signals at the other end of the block against the approach of an engine or car from the other direction and also against a car or engine following. To this end I have provided a sin gle wire system and mechanism correspondingly simple and standard in character, a contact and circuit-closing system positive in action-actuated at any speed of approach, an auxiliary magnet system to render the action positive, signals at both ends of the block to indicate that the block is closed or open and to indicate that the closing and opening has been effected, and positive mechanism to control the sec ondary -magn'et armatures.

In the drawings-I have indicated the adaptation, first, to an electric road, and, second, to a steam road, the difierence in construction involving only well-known mechanical changes.

Referring to the drawings herewith, consisting of four sheets, in which like letters refer to like parts, Figure l is a diagrammatic view of my invention as applied to an electric road. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing my invention as applied to a steam road. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of my armature-controlling mechanism. Fig. 4c is a top plan view of the same. Fig. 5 is an end elevation of the same. Fig. 5 is a sectional elevation on line m a, Fig. 4, giving an enlarged view. Fig. 6 is a side elevation of my contact-shoe as applied to an electric-railway system. Fig. 7 is a cross-section on line 9:31, Fig. 6. Fig.8

is a cross-section on line y y, Fig. 6. Fig. 9 is a detail view of a modified form of armature. Fig. 10 is an elevation of a modified form of my armatu re-con trolling mechanism. Referring now to Fig. l, A is the trolley with the magnets D and D, which are lighted when the current passes toaotuate the mag nets D and ,D'. E and E are deenergizingmagnets, as hereinafter morefully described.

F and F are energizing-magnets to the actu-- ating-magnets, as hereinafter more fully described. K and L' are local circuits from the I main line A, which pass through the resistance-lamps b and go to ground at g. L and M are similar circuits at the other end of the block, which pass through the resistance lamps b and go to ground at g. Each of these local circuits is cut in and out with the trolley-line A by proper contact-shoes, as indicated at a and a, the structure of which is hereinafter more fully described.

Assume now that a car is entering the block from the left. The. shoe a closes the local circuit K, and the circuit, passing through K, energizes themagnet F- and goes to ground at g. The magnet F being energized, its armature breaks the main'circuitB at I, connects it with the lamps (Z and magnet D,-and goes to ground at g. The magnet D, thus energized, throws the while semaphores d and informs the driver that the red at the other end of the block has been set. It is now evident that the main circuit B, sent to ground at g, energizes the magnet C, throws the red 5 semaphore 0, and lights the redlamps c. When the car passes out of the block, it closes the local circuit L, energizes the magnet E, and thus breaks the main circuit-at N. Thereupon the red semaphore c drops to place, the white semaphore (1 does likewise, and the block is open. A car approaching from the opposite direction closes the shuntcircuit M, energizes the magnet F, closes main circuit B at J, actuates white semaphore d', and at the same time actnates the red semaphore c. In passing out of the block the magnet E is energized, the circuit broken at O, and the block is open. It will be noted that in each instance as soon as the semaphores are set the local circuits K and M are broken at G and H, respectively, making it impossible for a car coming from the opposite direction to set the signals.

Referring now to Fig. 2, it will be seen that the adaptation consists in supplying batteries P P in the main circuit B and using the ordinary semaphore commonly in use on steam roads.

It now becomes necessary to explain my mechanical device for holding and releasing the armatures of the magnets F and F, for it is apparent that they must be held closed While the car is in the block and opened when the car leaves the block.

Referring now to Figs. 3, 4, and 5, the construction and operation would be identical with magnets F and F; but for illustration it is assumed to be the magnet F. his the armature, which has an insulated extension or arm i. A spring j, engaging under the arm 2', holds the armature normallyout of contact, and this spring j is connected directly with the main circuit B. The end of the arm 1} when the armature is open, as shown in Fig. 8, is in contact with a plate K, which is connected to the circuit leading to the red-semaphore magnet. When the armature is closed, the arm i comes in contact with the plate Z, which connects with the white-semaphore magnet. m is an arm secured to the armature h, which carries upon its end two plates 0t and 0. The plate a is rigid. The plate 0 is pivoted at p. A tension-spring q, rigidly secured to the arm on, passes outwardly and upwardly and engages with the plate 0 and by the torque of the spring tends to rock the plate 0 upon its pivot 19 out of parallelism with the plate a. This pivotal action of the plate 0, produced by the spring q, is limited in extent by means of a lug 20 upon the upper portion of the plate 0, which moves with said plate 0. This lug 00 moves within a slot u in the plate'mwhich limits the movement of the lug 00, and consequently the pivotal action of the plate 0, as clearly shown in Figs. 5 and 5". This tendency is limited by a slot 10 in the plate a and a lugx, engagingin said slot, as clearly shown in Fig. 5. s is a rack consisting of a swinging standard or support pivoted at 2, having a horizontal top portion a and a rectangular opening 1;, within which the plates n and 0 move. z is an arm leading to a bellcrank on the semaphore d, which oscillates the racks.

In operation when the armature h closes the arm L closes the main circuit 13 with the white-sem aphore magnet through i. The arm on carries the plates at and 0 down below the opening i in the top it of the rack s, whereupon the plate 0 rocks to its limit and prevents the release of the armature. Immediately the semaphore d is set and the arm .2 swings the rack s. The top of the plate 0 being slightly higher, as indicated at y, Fig. 5, than the plate it upon the first oscillation the plate 0 will engage in the slot o; but the armature will not be released until the car passes out of the block and deenergizes the magnet D and turns the semaphore d,when the arm 2 will oscillate the rack s in the opposite direction, closing the plate 0 upon the plate n and allowing the arm on to be carried to open, as shown in Fig. 3. It is apparent that the springj can be dispensed with by inverting the mechanism and depending upon gravity to swing the armature out of closed position.

Reference is now had to Figs. 6, 7, and 8 to explain mycontact-shoe. Ais the trolleywire. P is an overhead support. Q is a plate pivoted to the support P and in proximity to the wire A and capable of swinging in either direction by contact with the trolley. R is a bell-crank lever secured to the plate Q and pivoted to, a piston-rod S of a dash-pot T. The valve of the dashpot allows the plate Q to swing out of vertical freely and to return slowly. U is a rod pivoted to the plate Q and passing through a slide-bearing V, secured to the overhead hanger P and carrying a contact-spring V, which closes the circuit with the contactplates W and X and connecting with the binding-posts Yand Z. From these binding posts connection is made with the local circuits.

The operation is evident. hen the plate Q is swung in one direction, the contactspring comes in contact with one contactplate and connects it and its circuit with the trolley-c urrent, and the dash-pot prolongs the period of contact to overcome the inertia of the magnet actuated and prevents it from swinging past the center into contact with the other plate. When the plate Q is thrown in the opposite direction, similar contact is made with the other plate. It is of course understood that the plate Q is in electrical contact with the trolley-wire. Adaptation of this device to a steam road is little more than inversion of the device and application of well-known means, such as springor weight, to return the plate Q to vertical position.

In Fig. 9 I have shown a common form of magnet-armature having crescent pole-pieces and rotating armature. In cases where it is found desirable to mount the actuating-magnets directly upon the shafts of the semaphores I have found this construction most efficient.

Referring now to Fig. 10, I have shown in this figure a modified form of armature-com trolling'mechanism. The magnets D and 1* correspond to the magnets D and F of Fig.

cuit'by the exit of the car deenergizes the magnet f and allows the armature to swing out of contact. as shown in this figure, a spring is employed to lift it; but when the magnet is inverted it will fall away by gravity.

Having thus described my in vention, what I claim is 1. In an electric block-signal system a onewire main circuit actuating opposite signals at both ends ofthe block, magnets in said circuit for actuating said signals, energizing and denergizing magnets for opening and closing said main circuit, and automatic means for'controlling said magnets, and a contact device actuated by an approaching car or engine, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

In an electric block-signal system, a onewire main circuit actuating opposite signals at both ends of the block, magnets in said circuit, local circuits at both ends of the block, and means for closing them with the source of electric power, energizing-magnets thereon for closing the main circuit, automatic means for controlling said energizing-magnets, and denergizing-magnetsfor breaking the main circuit, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

3. An electric block-signal system, consisting of a one-wire circuit, connecting the two ends of the block, local circuits at both ends of the block, means for closing the same, with the source of electric power magnets on said main circuits for operating opposite signals at both ends of the block, magnets for open-' ing and closing said main circuit, switches for breaking the local circuit at the opposite end of the block from the actuating car or engine to prevent a car or engine coming from the opposite direction from setting the signals, means for holding the main circuit closed while the car or engine is in the block, and means for breaking the main circuit as the car leaves the block, and closing the local circuit at the opposite end of the block so that it can be operated by a following car or engine, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

4. An electric block-signal system, consisting of a single wire connecting the two ends of the block normally'dead, local circuits at both ends of the block for sending said main When the armature is placed" circuit to ground, magnets on said main ci1= cuits for actuating opposite signals at the ends of the block, energizing and denergizing magnets in said local circuit to ground and close said main circuit, switches forbreaking the local circuit at the opposite end of the block from the actuating car or engine, to prevent car or engine coming from the 0p posite direction from setting the signals, and means for holding the main circuit to ground after the local circuit is broken and while the car .or engine isin the block, substantially a and for the purposes set forth. v

5 In an electric block-signal system, a onewire connection between the two ends of the block normally dead, magnets on said circuit for actuating opposite'signals at both ends of the block, local circuits at both endsof the block closed by contact with the trolley-wire, magnets thereon for grounding the main cir-v cuit, switches for breaking the local circuit at theopposite end of the block for the actuating car or engine to prevent'a car or engine from the opposite direction from setting the sig- 'nals, means for holding the main circuit grounded while the block is occupied, and magnets onsaid local circuits for deenergizing said main line, substantially as and'for the purposes set forth.

6: In an electric blocksignal system,a main circuit and local circuits, a magnet actuated by a local circuit closing the main circuit, means for holding the armature of said magnot out of'contact when the magnet is dead, a contact-arm on said armature, an extension on said armature, carrying one ,fixed plate and one swinging plate normally swung out of parallel with the fixed plate by a spring, an oscillating frame engaging said plates, and actuated by the semaphore, releasing said plates upon a complete oscillation only, a semaphore and connecting-rod producing said oscillation, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

7. In an electric block-signal system, in

combination with a local circuit and means for opening and closing the same, and a main circuit, a magnet-controllin g mechanism consisting of a magnet in said local circuit, a

contact-arm on the armature, an arm m se cured to the armature, a rigid plate 11, a pivoted plate 0 and spring q, a rack s with a rectangular opening o, a rod 2 connecting the rack s with the semaphore, a slot w in the plate n and a lug to engaging in said slot, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

.8. In an electric block-signal system, the

tion for the signal-wire, containing the other In witness whereof I have hereunto set my signal at its station, and means for making hand this 15th day of February, 1899. the ground connection and thereby completing the circuit through the signal-wire when 5 a car enters the block between stations, and Witnesses:

means for breaking the circuit when the car EDGAR A. TAYLOR, leaves the block, substantially as set forth. MYRON S. HALL, 2d.

SELDEN H. HALL. 

